Surgical bandage for the arm, shoulder, and clavicle



April 17, 1951 M. w. NEW I 2,549,703

SURGICAL BANDAGE FOR THE ARM, SHOULDER, AND CLAVICLE Filed July 15. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 17, 1951 M. w. NEW 2,549,703

SURGICAL BANDAGE FOR THE ARM, SHOULDER, AND CLAVICLE Filed July 15, 1947 ZflSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SURGICAL BANDAGE FOR THE ARM, SHOULDER, AND CLAVICLE Mary W. New, Alexandria, Va.

, Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,014

' Claims. (01. 128-94) My invention relates to surgical bandages, and

hasparticular reference to a surgical bandage primarily intended for use in the treatment of breaks, fractures or dislocations of the human shoulder, clavicle or arm.

It is well recognized by eminent orthopedic physicians and surgeons and others of the medical profession, that a less painful, more permanent, and more perfect cure of a broken, fractured or dislocated shoulder, clavicle or arm, can be effected if, during the bone setting or bone knitting period of convalescence, the injured member and its surrounding parts, are relieved of weight and strain and are kept immobile, and if the arm is properly and comfortably supported. It is therefore an object of my present invention to provide a surgical bandage which overlies the.

top, front and rear of the patients shoulder, extends downwardly from the shoulder and along the outside of the upper portion of the associated arm to beneath the elbow thereof, and terminates in a sling portion adapted to support the forearm in various angular positions across encircle the upper portion of the patients body and by means of which the portion of the bandage which extends along the outside of the patients arm may be pulled toward the opposite side of the patients body to maintain the upper portion of the, arm in firm contact with the patients body to thus maintain the upper portion of the arm immobile.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a surgical bandage for use in the treatment of breaks, fractures or dislocations of the human shoulder, clavicle or arm, which bandage is composed entirely of fabric and which includes one or more fabric panels, certain of which overlie the top, front and rear of the patients shoulder, others of which engage the outer side of the upper portion of the arm and also serve as a sling for supporting the forearm, and still others of which extend across the front and rear of the patients 1 body and have their ends tied, laced, or otherwise fastened together to retain the bandage in its proper position on the body of the patient, with the injured arm or the arm associated with the broken, fractured or dislocated shoulder or clavicle, maintained in firm, immovable contact 2 r I with the side of the patients' body and in a posi. tion most comfortable to the patient and most effective for the treatment and cure of the particular injury involved.

It is a further object'of my invention to pro-. vide a surgical bandage which includes panels for supporting the arm of the patient and for maintaining said arm immobile, the construction being such that the bandage is readily reversible to thus permit its use in the treatment of injuries which occur on either the right side or on the left side of the human body.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a surgical bandage adapted for use in connection with the treatment of injuries of the human shoulder, clavicle or arm, and which may be readily applied to, and removed from, the

patient, and one which is cheap and easy to manufacture, easy to maintain in a clean and sanitary condition, one which is strong and durable, readily reversible, adjustable to maintain the arm of the patient in various angular positions, and one which is highly eflicient in the purposes for which designed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purposes of illustration I have illustrated several preferred embodiments of my present invention:

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and rear views, respectively, showing a preferred form of my present invention applied to a patient having a broken, fractured or dislocated shoulder, clavicle or arm, these figures showing the bandage when applied to the left side of the patient,

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and rear views, respectively, of a modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, these figures also showing the bandage when applied to the left side of the patient, 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and rear views, respectively, of a further modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, these figuresalso showing the bandage when applied to the left side of the patient,

Fig. '7 is an extended plan view of the preferred form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and '7, showing the bandage folded in position to be applied to the right side of a patient,

Fig. 9 is an extended plan view of the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and showing the bandage folded in position to be applied to the right side of a patient, and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and showing a bodice or vest type bandage folded in position to be applied to the left side of a patient. In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral l designates broadly a panel of the bandage, which bandage is composed of muslin, cambric, linen, or other suitable fabric, preferably material having the minimum of stretch. The general shape or configuration of the panel I is best shown in Fig. 7, from which it will be seen that this panel is defined by a relatively straight lower edge 2, which panel terminates at its left end as viewed in Fig. '7, in a lower, striplike portion 3, and an upper, striplike portion 4, which portions cooperate with other portions to be hereinafter described, to tie or affix the bandage in position on a patient. The right edge of panel I, as viewed in Fig. 7, is curved or arcuate. and has attached thereto, as by sewing, a second panel 6, preferably composed of the-same or substantially the same material as that of panel I. The right edge I, of said panel 6, as viewed in Fig. 7, is relatively straight, while the left edge 8 of said panel, as viewed in said figure,

is slightly curved from the bottom toward the top thereof and toward the right edge 1, to thus form the elongated, tapered or substantially triangular panel 6. The lower edge 9 of panel ,6 is curved or arcuate to the same degree, and to the same extent, as the right edge 5 of pane1 i to which it is sewed or otherwise attached. The bandage includes a third'panel 1B, the right edge ll of which, as viewed in Fig. 7, is substantially straight and substantially'parallel to the edge I of panel 6. viewed in Fig. 7, is curved or arcuate to the same degree, andto the same extent, as the edges 5 ands of panels I and 6, respectively, while the upper edge l3 of panel It is gradually curved upwardly from the top of edge I2 to the top of edge H. The left edge [2 of panel Ill is sewed or otherwise attached to edges 5 and 9.

"The edge H of panel Ill is provided with a series of tapes l4 arranged in spaced, parallel relation along said edge, and the upper edge 13 of said panel is provided with a tape l5. A second series of tapes I 6 is attached to a strip l1 sewed or otherwise secured to the lower portion of panel 6, and a third series of tapes I8 is provided on the rear side of panel NJ, as viewed in Fig. '7, the number of tapes Hi, It and I8 preferably being the same and the relative spacing of said tapes corresponding substantially in each of saidseries. A single tape I9 is attached to the edge 8 of panel 6. series of tap-es cooperate in a manner to be hereinafter described, to assist in supporting the arm of a patient to which the bandage is applied.

In the modified form of my invention shown appliedto a patient in Figs. 3 and l, and shown in plan in Figs. 9 and 10, the numeral 2&1 designates broadly'a panel of the bandage, which panel is composed of muslin, carnbric, linen, or other suitable material, preferablymaterial having the minimum of stretch. The general shape or cone figuration of the panel Zfif is best shown in Fig.

9, from which it will be seen that this panel includes a relatively straight upper edge 2|, which panel terminates at its right end, as viewed in Fig. 9, in an elongated or strip-like portion 22, which'portion cooperates with another portion to be hereinafter described, to tie or afiix the bandage in position on a patient. The left edge 23 of panel2ll, as viewed in Fig. 9, is curved or arcuate and has attached thereto, as by sewing, a second The left edge l2 of panellfi, as

These several individual and panel 24, preferably composed of the same or substantially the same material as that of panel 20. The top edge 25 of said panel or section 24, as viewed in Fig. 9, is relatively straight, while the left edge 26, as viewed in said figure, is slightly curved, as shown. The right edge 21 of panel 24 is curved or arcuate to the same degree, and to the same extent, as the edge 23 to which it is sewed or otherwise attached. The bandage includes a third panel 28, which has a relatively straight upperedge 29 in substantial horizontal alin'ement with the edge 2| of panel 20, panel 28 terminatin at its left end, as viewed in Fig. 9, in an elongated or strip-like portion 30, which portion cooperates with portion 22 in a manner to. be hereinafter described, to tie or affix the bandage in position on a patient. The right edge of panel 28is curved or arcuate to the same degree, and to the same extent, as the edges 23 and 27 of panels and 24, respectively, to which edges it is attached. The lower edges 3| and 32 of panels 2!] and 28, respectively, are gradually curved from their inner ends toward their outer ends as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

The edge 26 of panel 24 is provided with a series of tapes 33 arranged in spaced, parallel relation along said edge, and the upper edge is provided with a tape 34 and with a tape 35. A tape 36 isattached to the rear face of the panel 23 at a point immediately behind the point of attachment of the tape A second series of tapes 3? is attached to a strip 38 sewed or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the panel 2'4, 'a'nd a third series of tapes 39 is provided on the rear side of panel 2%,. as viewed in Fig. 9. These several individual and series of tapes cooperate in a manner'to be hereinafter described, to assist in supporting the arm of a patient to which the bandage is applied.

In the modified form of my invention shown applied to a patient in Figs. 5 and 6, and shown in plan in Fig. 11, the numeral 40 designates broadly a bodice or vest-like bandage including at one side thereof an armhole 4| through which the arm on that side of a patient opposite the injured side is adapted to extend, in a manner similar to that in which an arm extends through the armhole of an ordinary or conventional vest. The bodice or vest 39 includes a back portion 42, and a front half-section 43, which half-section is associated with that side of the bandage in which the armhole ll is located. The section 43' is' provided along its free marginal edge with a. series'oflhfoles or eyelets Mfand the asso- Cid-ted front half-section 45 is provided, inwardll of the. free marginal "edge thereof, with a series of fhqlesor'eyelets 45, which are adaptedtobe brought together with respect to the holes or eyelet 44, a lace 4'! being threaded through said holes or eyeets 44 and lfi when it is desired to secure the bandage. tightly around or about the body of a patient. A lower armhole 4B is provided at the lower right corner of the half-section 45, through which the lower part or forearmof the injured arm,'or of the arm on that side of the body on which the injured shoulder or clavicle is located, may extend. The halfsection $5 is longer than the half-section 43 and provides a dependingportion d9, which, in a manner to be presently described, constitute a sling for supporting the forearm of the patient. It is to be particularly noted that there is a portion 58 of the half-section d5 which is located to the left of the row of holes or eyelets 46 as viewed in Fig. 11.

The lowermost edge of the half-section 45 is provided with a series of tapes 5I arranged in spaced, parallel relation along said edge. A second series of spaced tapes 52 is attached to a strip 53 sewed or otherwise secured to the upp portion of the half-section 45, and a third series of spaced tapes 54 is provided on the rear side of half-section 45 as viewed in Fig. 11. A tape 55 is attached to the left edge of half-section 45, as viewed in Fig. 11. The individual and the several series of tapes cooperate in a manner to be hereinafter described, to assist in supporting the arm of a patient to which the bandage is applied.

A strip 56 has its upper end sewed or otherwise attached to the uppermost part of the halfsection 43, and an elongated slit or opening 51 is provided immediately below the line of attachment, so that the strip may lie on the outside of half-section 43'33 shown in Fig. 11, or may be threaded through the slit or opening 51 to underlie said half-section 43.

It will be understood that the bandage shown and described herein will be made up in a plurality of different sizes and that the bandage applied to a patient will be the one which fits him best.

Having thus described and illustrated several 7 Referring, first, to Fig. 7 which shows in plan the preferred embodiment of my present invention, the right hand portion of the bandage, i. e.,

the panels 6 and III are folded over upon the panel I, this folded position being adequately illustrated in Fig. 8. When thus folded, the seam or juncture of the curved or arcuate edges 5, 9 and I2 of the panels I, 6 and I0, respectively, defines the outer edge of the bandage, which edge extends from a point adjacent the neckline toa point slightly above the elbow. When folded as illustrated in Fig. 8, the bandage is adapted for application to the right shoulder of a patient. By reversibly folding the panels I, 6 and I0, the bandage may be prepared for application to the. left shoulder of the patient, with panel I at the back, panel 6 extending across the chest'of the patient, and panel I0 overlying panel 6. When applied to the left shoulder of the patient, the panel I extends across the back of the shoulders of the patient as clearly shown in Fig. 2; the panels 6 and Ill extend across the chest of the patient; and the free end 3 of panel I is tied to the free end of panel 6. It will be noted that the seam or juncture of edges 5, 9 and I2 con forms to the shape of the patients shoulder and to the upper portion of the patients arm, and that by pulling tightly on the free ends of panels I and 6, and by tying these ends together in a tight knot, the upper part of the patients arm is pressed tightly against his body, and the shoulder and that portion of the associated arm above the elbow thereof are maintained immobile. To complete the application of the bandage, the doctor, nurse or other person who is fitting the bandage to the patient, turns up the depending lower portion of panel I0 and ties the tapes I4 to the tapes, l6 and ties the free corner of said panel to the free end ofthe strip-like portion 4 of panel I. Tapes I5 and I9 are then tied together and the application of the bandage is complete.

adjusting the tied relation between the sevmaintained immobile.

eral tapes and between the free end 4 of panel I and the free end of panel I0, it is possible to vary the angular position of the patients forearm across his chest, and the bandage may be secured so as to retain and support the forearm of the patient in the most comfortable position or in the position most effective for the treatment of the particular injury or ailment involved. It is to be particularly noted that in this preferred form of my invention practically the entire weight of the patients forearm is supported from the right, uninjuredshoulder, which, obviously, is a decided advantage.

When using the form of bandage shown in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10, the bandage has its panels 24 and 28 folded over upon the panel 20, the panel 24 then lying between panels 25 and 28 as clearly shown in Fig. 10. When thus folded, the bandage is adapted for application to the right shoulder of a patient. By reversely folding the panels 2|], 24 and 28, the bandage may be prepared for application to the left shoulder of the patient, with panel 20 at the back, panel 28 extending across the chest of the patient, and panel 24 overlying panel 28. When applied to the left shoulder of the patient, the panel 20 extends across the back of the shoulders of the patient as clearly shown in Fig. 4; the panels 28 and 24 extend across the chest of the patient; and the free ends of panels 25 and 28 are tied together in a tight knot beneath the patients right arm, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the seam or juncture between the inner ends of the three panels conforms to the shape of the patients shoulder and to the upper portion of the patients arm, and that by pulling tightly on the free ends of panels 26 and 28, and by tying. these ends together in a tight knot, the upper part of the patients armis pressed tightly against his body, and theshoulder and that portion of the associated arm: above the elbow thereof are To complete the pplication of the bandage, the depending lower portion of the panel 24 is turned up over the forearm of the patient and the tapes 33 are tied to the tapes 39, and tape 34 is tied to tape 35. By

adjusting the tied relation between the several tapes, it is possible to vary the angular position of the patients forearm across his chest, and the bandage may be secured so as to retain and support the forearm of the patient in the most comfortable position or in the position most effective for the treatment of the particular in jury or ailment involved. It i to be particularly noted that in the bandage of this form of the invention the entire weight of the forearm is supported from the injured shoulder, as distin-- guished from the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, wherein the weight of the forearm is supported from the uninjured shoulder.

When using the bodice or vest-type bandage shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 11, it is possible to apply the bandage for the treatment of either the right or left side of the patient. As shown in Fig. 11, the bandage is adapted for application to a patient who has an injured left shoulder, clavicle or arm. If the injury is on the right side of the patient, the bandage of Fig. 11 is turned in-sideout and the strip 56 is pass-ed through the slit or opening 51. The uninjured arm of the patient is passed through the armhole 4|, the forearm of the injured arm is passed through the arm-' hole 48, and the two half-sections 43 and 45 are moved toward each other across th chest of the patient,-.to a position where the holes or eyelet 44 and .46 are close together. The lace 41 is then threadedly guided through the holes or eyelets 44 and t6, and is pulled tight so as to pull thepatients injured arm into tight contact with his body and to retain the shoulder and the upper part ofthe injured arm immobile. The lower portion 49 of half-section 45 is then turned up over the patients forearm, laces M are tied to laces 52, and the portion t of half-section l5 and tape 55 are tied to strip 56. By adjusting the tied relation between the tapes 5! and 52, and between the portion 5% tape 55 and strip 56, it is possible to support the forearm of the patient in any desired angular position across his chest. It will be readily apparent that in this form of my invention, practically the entire Weight of the ,patients forearm is supported from the uninjured shoulder.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a surgical bandage which may be applied to either the right side or the left side of a patient, and which will function to maintain the arm on the injured side of the patient, in an immobile position. 'In all forms of my invention shown and described herein, a portion of the bandage overlies the top, front, rear and side portions of the patients shoulder and the outer surface of the upper portion of the arm associated with that shoulder, and means, which extend across the patients back and across his chest to the uninjured side of his body, are provided for pulling the shoulder and arm-enclosing portion of the bandage tightly against the enclosed parts. In the several forms of bandage presented herein, each form includes means constituting a sling, for supporting the forearm of the arm on the injured side of the body in any one of a number of different angular positions across the patients chest.

It Will be understood that the several forms of the invention shown herein, are to be taken as preferred embodiments of my invention, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, strapand-buckle or other suitable fastening means might be used in place of the tapes shown and described herein, the number of panels and the general configuration of said panels, might be altered, suitable fastening mean might be applied to the free ends of the panels as substitutes for the knots disclosed herein and many other changes might suggest themselves to one skilled in the art to which the present'invention relates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A surgical bandage including a portion adapted to embrace the top, front and rear of a patients shoulder and the outer surface of the upper portion of the arm associated with said shoulder, portions extending from said first-mentioned portion and adapted to pass across the back of the shoulder and across the chest of the patient and to be drawn tightly and fastened together about the body of the patient to press the upper portion of the patients arm in close contact with the adjacent portion of the patients body and to thus render said shoulder and upper portion of said arm immobile, each of said portions comprising a panel of flexible material havinga normally freeouter end and the inner ends of said panels being joined together at a common seam, and a depending portion below said first-mentioned portion adapted to be folded up- Wardly, aroundthew forearm of, the, immobilized arm and fastened tosaid first-mentioned portion to form a sling for supporting said forearm.

2. A surgical bandage as defined in claim 1,

wherein theseam which attaches the inner ends of said panels is curved and conforms to the shape of the patients shoulder and to the upper portion of the patients arm, said seam extending from a point adjacent the patients neckline to a point slightly above the patients elbow when the bandage is applied to the patient.

3. A surgical bandage as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion which embraces the top, front and rear of the patients shoulder and the outer portion of the arm associated with said shoulder is providedwith similar fastening means on the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the portion of the bandage adapted to overlie the front of the patients shoulder, and wherein said depending portion below the first mentioned portion is provided with fastening means adapted for engagement with either of the other fastening means, whereby the bandage is reversible by being turned inside-out to permit use of the bandage with either the right or left shoulder of the patient.

4. A surgical bandage comprising a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel all having one of their ends attached to the ends of the other two panels and having their outer ends free, said panels being foldable to form a pocket-like portion adapted to embrace the top, front and rear of a patients shoulder and the outer surface of the upper portion of the'arm associated with said shoulder, the first and second panels extending from said pocket-like portion across the back and across the chest, respectively, of the patient and terminating at that side of said patient opposite from that which is within said pocket-like portion, the free ends of said first and second panels being disposed at said opposite side and being drawn tightly and fastened together about the body of the patient to press the upper portion of the patients arm into close contact-with the adjacent portion of the patients body to thus render said shoulder and upper portion of said arm immobile, said third panel also extending around the chest of the patient and including a depending portion below said second panel adapted to be folded upwardly around the forearm of the immobilized arm and fastened to an upper portion of the front face of said second panel to form a sling for supporting said forearm.

5. A surgical bandage as defined in claim 4,

, wherein. the first panel includes a portion which overlies the shoulder of the patient opposite that Within the pocket-like portion, which portion of said first panel isadapted to be fastened to the upwardly turn-ed portion of the third panel to maintain the sling and encosed forearm in the desired angular position across the chest of the patient.

MARY W. NEW.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date .Hingston Oct. 31, 1905 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 59,738 Norway July 29; 1946 Number 

